Phils Slug Their Way Past Marlins, 7-2

For the first time since early April, the Phillies scored seven runs or more in back-to-back games. Last night, they jumped out to a big lead early. Tonight, they did it mostly via the long ball in somewhat of a comeback effort.

They went down 2-0 after three innings, but in the fifth, they put three runs on the board, followed by four more in the sixth. Kyle Kendrick pitched a solid game, and NL player of the week and month Domonic Brown hit yet another home run.

BROWN STAYS HOT

Domonic Brown had another nice night at the plate. He went 3-4 with another home run and 2 RBI. Over the homestand, he’s batting .545 with six home runs, and the first Phillie to hit nine home runs in ten games since Bobby Abreu. Simply outstanding.

He now has 17 home runs on the year, 42 RBI, and he’s hitting .291/.329/.592. Get this guy to the All Star Game.

FUN NIGHT FOR KENDRICK

Not only did Kyle Kendrick throw a full nine innings of two-run ball, he also tripled, and later tagged up on a fly ball to center. He slid headfirst into third on the triple, getting his uniform dirty and tearing up his elbows, and hat to pitch with that dirty uniform the next inning. It was fantastic.

His full line was 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. His ERA is now 3.12 on the season.

The good thing is Scott that he hit the ball a few times to left field. Although we did not see real power, anytime the big man can hit to the opposite field its gonna be good.
I think it was Sarge (or Wheels) who said maybe the knee is affecting his power still (pushing off).

Ugh….this team is going to kill me. IF they “hang around” 500 they aren’t going to make the moves they need to sure up their future. While it’s nice to see them hit right now, they simply aren’t a team built to win this year, next year or any year down the road.
GAH….I don’t want them to lose buuuuut, how can we retool around the pieces we DO have if they keep winning.
Like, I’d be very comfortable with a Hamels, Kendrick, Veteran Starter A, Young guy, Young guy rotation, and a lineup where Young, Young, Howard and gulp, even Utley were replaced by youngins (which autocorrect tried to make yeunglings….ok too).

If anyone has a good recipe for crow pie or crow stew or something with crow in it …please let me know. Cause after seriously doubting that D Brown could ever truly make it up here I need to swallow my pride, suck it up and eat a nice big helping. Jesus…this guy is amazing!

I ton of people doubted Brown, including at times probably Phils’ management.

But what of Kendrick? I seem to recall loads of people whining a few years back about his inability to pitch in the major leagues. He now has two complete games on the season, a better ERA and W/L record than Hamels, I’m not sure how many quality starts, and has stopped a few losing streaks. But I’ve yet to see anyone eating anything bird-like on his behalf.

I’m hearing mention of Brown getting picked for the home run derby. I seriously hope he doesn’t participate. The stupid derby has ruined more hitters than I can name, and unless you’re actually there, it’s a boring event.

The “home run derby curse” and its ruining hitters is debatable. I think it’s more the case that hitters get picked for the home run derby because they’re having a great first half, and streaks inevitably run their course, whether players participate in the derby or not. Article on this: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-home-run-derby-curse/

Good article. It seems it’s more a case of regression in the second half, rather than a changed hitting approach. Still, I worry about Brown because he’s young and developing. I’m not convinced he’s becoming a star player (but of course I hope he is). Her’e’s something to check out.

I’m sure we all recall Bobby Abreau hitting 41 hrs in the derby and then displaying a power shortage for the remainder of the season (2005). He wound up hitting 24 hrs that year and in one round of the HR Derby he hit 24.

In 2005, Abreu hit 18 in the first half, 6 in the second
In 2003, he hit 14 in the first half, 6 in the second

He wasn’t a home run hitter. It was kind of surprising that he was even included in 2005. He happened to get in a groove and kept hitting them out, and then he regressed in the 2nd half. I don’t see a cause and effect.

From the link-
“Of course, it should also be noted that not every player needs to alter his swing in the Home Run Derby. Players such as Prince Fielder possess a swing that is naturally built to lift baseballs over the fence. Players such as Joe Mauer or Andrew McCutchen, on the other hand, could attempt to create more lift, as their natural swings are not considered traditional home run strokes. ”

I don’t see a reason for Dom Brown to change his swing for the event like McCutchen or Mauer. IMO- If he just keeps doing whatever he is doing in BP right now, he should be fine.

Can anyone tell me why Kendrick had to change his uniform top because it was dirty? Is that required or something? Sarge and Wheels wouldn’t shut up about it. Would have made for some pretty good highlight photos if he had kept the grungy top on…

@George, on this one I personally never wavered. I always thought Kendrick was an outstanding athlete, and therefore could absolutely perform well as a major league pitcher. But yes, when he was last signed (I can’t remember when or how much) there were many complaints about at the time.

Lefty, I wasn’t singling out anyone, because I really can’t remember names very well. (It’s not senility, either; I’ve always had that problem.)

I’d have guessed, though, that you were one of few who did think Kendrick had a place on the Phils’ staff, because I’ve found that you’re one of those who gives players a chance. It’s always good to have people around who don’t demand that heads roll when a young player isn’t top notch right away. I always thought KK would do pretty decently myself; maybe not an ace, but certainly not an Adam Eaton, either. He always struck me as putting in a lot of effort to improve. He’s doing better, however, than even I would have predicted, and I hope he keeps it up.

Dave – I don’t think you can seriously compare Ty Wigginton and Domonic Brown….at ANY point in their respective careers. Also….I happen to actually like and watch the HR Derby. I’ll go out of my way to watch that over the AS Game itself. But that’s just me..

No, it might be me. The Home Run Derby and even the All Star Game have lost their allure for me. I loved the All Star Game as a kid. Watching Rose, Garvey, Lynn, Bench, Schmidt, etc., was one of my favorite annual events. But, I honestly haven’t watched a complete game in years. I think the derby lost it’s appeal when I realized that those guys where on steroids. The only one I saw since was Hamilton’s. As for Wigginton and Brown…I wasn’t necessarily comparing the two, only making a point that it’s really early on Brown and not to get too carried away.

I’ll agree that the derby is glorified batting practice, and that I am also uninterested in it.

But I’ll add that I resent it, too. I consider it just another waste of TV airtime, wher various semi-worthless sports commentators get to expound on the obvious: “He really hit that one!”

Maybe it’s good for those who are actually there. Some of them get a chance to catch a baseball, which is no doubt worth the exhorbitant wads of money they fork out for overpriced tickets, parking, and concessions.

To me, the whole thing would be more interesting if midgets were the participants.

John Morosi is out with some news that includes of alleged teams Cliff can’t be dealt to, shuld the club move in that direction. Not a full list, and based on a source, it’s shall we say probable.

Suggestive of intelligently trying to assure he won’t be dealt, the list includes teams that would figure to be interested in him, which gives quick rejection power, or incredibly, the right to sell his rejection power for more millions than his guaranteed contract calls for. Only 4 clubs are specifically mentioned, the Yanks, Red Sox and Orioles among them.

The way things are going, Cliff would be an absolutely monster fit with the Giants. I’d guess they are not on his list based on the premise that he wouldn’t have figured they would pursue him.

This isn’t commentary on if the club is a buyer or seller, or if Lee should go. I’ll readily confess to NOT wanting him traded, but that’s based on very selfish appreciation of watching his act. It’s just the first I’ve heard of who’s on his CURRENT list. And I’d assume fairly accurate to the point that info is divulged.

Seems to me that a good rule of thumb is a first question of could a guy be stupid enough not to know the rules before you follow the guilty before proven innocent track. Prolly takes a lucky guess to answer yes correctly since there’s so little insight available on off field activities.

If you have access to a library of before and after swings from previous years to recent, I’m going with adjusted, shortened swing rather than the white elephant. IF that illegal energy boost trip winds up the case, it’d be a crying shame. It’s going to be crying shame enough that this pace is impossible to keep up. He STILL hasn’t hit his potential. Flew right past that sucker. I hope he maintains a semblance of it on the way back down.